Premier Division Preview - Saturday 22nd October 2016
Fri 21st October 2016 | General | By Gary Langley
With the FA Vase occupying the attention of a number of Premier Division Clubs this weekend, the clubs that are not in that competition can focus theirs on League action and with the Division looking really tight at the top and bottom there are opportunities for clubs at either end to strengthen their position.
Starting at the Abbey Stadium as Abbey Hey host Winsford United with both sides on the periphery of things at the top end at the moment but with opportunity to make in-roads in the table. Winsford are set a bit further back in the table and haven't travelled well in the league this season, with just the one win on the road whereas up until last week Abbey Hey were poor at home. They put that right though with a comprehensive 7-0 defeat of Nelson last weekend and in midweek they topped that off with a decent looking 3-1 win away at AFC Darwen.
New Mills welcome Maine Road this weekend, with neither side having played in midweek they will be relatively fresh. There isn't too much between these sides, both drew 1-1 in their respective games last weekend and are in lower-mid table. Their form patterns are remarkably similar too so both clubs will be looking to use this game as a catalyst for a push up the table.
Two sides in the bottom four meet at the WEC Group Anchor Ground as 19th placed AFC Darwen welcome Barnton who are just a place below them in 20th. The league placings are a front for these two sides as they have both been playing good football on the park. Darwen up until the midweek defeat at home to Abbey Hey were actually unbeaten in three games going into that match albeit three draws but they are decent results when you consider a couple of those were on the road at Congleton and Padiham.
Barnton have a solid improving squad and this was reflected in their last league outing last weekend as they defeated Squires Gate 2-0 at the Royal British Legion Stadium. Many observers predict both of these sides will be OK come the end of the season and a result for either of these this weekend will go a long way to clawing back some of the sides above them.
Cammell Laird face Ashton Athletic at the North West Construction Stadium with both sides looking for progression. Lairds style of play had been starting to look more effective under Mick McGraa but came unstuck with a 0-4 home reverse to Runcorn Town leaving them bottom of the stack but still for not having a League win all season they are only six points away from safety so a win this weekend would be a massive boost.
Ashton Athletic are remarkably inconsistent at the moment, in their last six in all competitions they have won three and lost three but are another club that have played some really good football this season, they just seem to leak as many goals as they tuck away and their +1 goal difference reflects that, although their 6-0 home win over Nelson in midweek helped! From what I have seen of them this season I think they are just a click away from the start of a good run of wins, however with Lairds at home this may be closer on the field than it looks like it could be on paper.
On what's been a grim week for Nelson, shipping thirteen goals in their last two league games they will be looking for the weekend to bring them a bit of joy as they welcome Squires Gate to Little Wembley. Nelson's 6-0 reverse at Ashton Athletic in midweek sees them with just one win in their last eight league games and second from bottom of the table. Squires Gate with two wins in their last seven league matches could also do with a win although at the moment they are well clear of trouble.
It's a weekend which largely effects issues from mid table to the relegation places, but for all these clubs whilst some need the points more than others, all of these games give them a great opportunity for some much needed points ahead of cup games.
Premier Division Preview - Saturday 22nd October 2016
Fri 21st October 2016 | General
By Gary Langley
With the FA Vase occupying the attention of a number of Premier Division Clubs this weekend, the clubs that are not in that competition can focus theirs on League action and with the Division looking really tight at the top and bottom there are opportunities for clubs at either end to strengthen their position.
Starting at the Abbey Stadium as Abbey Hey host Winsford United with both sides on the periphery of things at the top end at the moment but with opportunity to make in-roads in the table. Winsford are set a bit further back in the table and haven't travelled well in the league this season, with just the one win on the road whereas up until last week Abbey Hey were poor at home. They put that right though with a comprehensive 7-0 defeat of Nelson last weekend and in midweek they topped that off with a decent looking 3-1 win away at AFC Darwen.
New Mills welcome Maine Road this weekend, with neither side having played in midweek they will be relatively fresh. There isn't too much between these sides, both drew 1-1 in their respective games last weekend and are in lower-mid table. Their form patterns are remarkably similar too so both clubs will be looking to use this game as a catalyst for a push up the table.
Two sides in the bottom four meet at the WEC Group Anchor Ground as 19th placed AFC Darwen welcome Barnton who are just a place below them in 20th. The league placings are a front for these two sides as they have both been playing good football on the park. Darwen up until the midweek defeat at home to Abbey Hey were actually unbeaten in three games going into that match albeit three draws but they are decent results when you consider a couple of those were on the road at Congleton and Padiham.
Barnton have a solid improving squad and this was reflected in their last league outing last weekend as they defeated Squires Gate 2-0 at the Royal British Legion Stadium. Many observers predict both of these sides will be OK come the end of the season and a result for either of these this weekend will go a long way to clawing back some of the sides above them.
Cammell Laird face Ashton Athletic at the North West Construction Stadium with both sides looking for progression. Lairds style of play had been starting to look more effective under Mick McGraa but came unstuck with a 0-4 home reverse to Runcorn Town leaving them bottom of the stack but still for not having a League win all season they are only six points away from safety so a win this weekend would be a massive boost.
Ashton Athletic are remarkably inconsistent at the moment, in their last six in all competitions they have won three and lost three but are another club that have played some really good football this season, they just seem to leak as many goals as they tuck away and their +1 goal difference reflects that, although their 6-0 home win over Nelson in midweek helped! From what I have seen of them this season I think they are just a click away from the start of a good run of wins, however with Lairds at home this may be closer on the field than it looks like it could be on paper.
On what's been a grim week for Nelson, shipping thirteen goals in their last two league games they will be looking for the weekend to bring them a bit of joy as they welcome Squires Gate to Little Wembley. Nelson's 6-0 reverse at Ashton Athletic in midweek sees them with just one win in their last eight league games and second from bottom of the table. Squires Gate with two wins in their last seven league matches could also do with a win although at the moment they are well clear of trouble.
It's a weekend which largely effects issues from mid table to the relegation places, but for all these clubs whilst some need the points more than others, all of these games give them a great opportunity for some much needed points ahead of cup games.
